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Lesson One2 Samuel: David's Great Reign5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson Two1 Kings: Israel's Decline and Division5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson ThreeThe Old Testament "Story" and Its Sources5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson Four2 Kings: Israel's Decline and Destruction5 Activities1 Assessment
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity1 Assessment
Participants 90
Discussion Questions
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What can we learn (both positive and negative) from the life of David?
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David had many triumphs in God, but that didn’t mean he could coast on past victories. His comfort led to idleness which then made him vulnerable to adultery, then murder. We can learn God will use us in despite of our failures and short comings, though he will have us endure trials and consequences of sin. David shows us leaders thrive with hunger and zeal for the Lord, but like with Saul if we become selfish we can quickly fall and be overwhelmed with grief.
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David represents the duality that believers face in life, the positive spirit led life and the negative sinful nature that we are constantly trying to change through God’s Spirit and grace. Like David, when we acknowledge that God is our source of victory, strength and life, we SPCA’s be called people “after the heart of God”. But also like David, we face numerous temptations that we can either reject or give into. One advantage that followers of Christ have over David is the indwelling Holy Spirit that we can call upon when temptation arises.
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David exemplified loyalty, respect, and fear of the Lord. David always revered the Lord’s position. For example, when Saul was king, David brought honor and demonstrated loyalty to Saul even when Saul was not walking in the ways of the Lord.
David became greater and greater because the Lord was with him. God will always be with us and will prosper us by His will.
I can learn from David’s life that “my sin is ever before me”. I should acknowledge my sin, then repent and confess.
David was not a good parent; He did not call his sons out on their sin as when Amnon raped his sister Tamar.
David did not follow the instructions on how to move the ark, and Uzzah died because of it. David had to learn to heed God’s specific instructions and to do it God’s way.
David decided to take a census which highlighted his power instead of trusting and depending on God. We can sometimes trust in our own strength, but things do not go well for us. -
David made so many mistakes, poor choices and out right sin and repented too and God forgave him each time allowing consequences to happen. God always had patience. God wanted David to be the lineage to Christ. There was a higher plan a more excellent outcome. God can do this with us to . He forgives but doesn’t coddle. He treats us with respect and love. God didn’t shame David. He doesn’t shame us either.
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David was a man after God’s heart and showed much wisdom and respect for God. He show loyalty to God and God’s plan, even when he was not wanted as king. He stayed steadfast to God’s plan and his previous anointment and was safe from Saul throughout the process and led to be the ultimate king over the Israelites. David was also a sinner, as he was a human too. He fell in many ways, with the biggest being his affair with Bathsheba and intentional murdering of her husband, Uriah. We see that all sins have consequeneces that are natural to it all, even with grace and forgiveness from God. We see what happens when one relies on pride solely, like when he thought that he was a strong enough leader to build an empire beyond the Promised Land, and God responded with a plague.
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Where do you see God’s faithfulness to His people and His covenant with them demonstrated in 2 Samuel? Explain.
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I see God’s faithfulness to His people in 2 Samuel by allowing David to commit his sins and learn the power of His forgiveness and redemption while David had to deal with the fruits of his actions on Earth. I see God’s faithfulness to His covenant with them because He did allow David’s son, Solomon, to bring the arc to Jerusalem even after David’s disobedience.
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God had made several covenants with the people of Israel. For instance, God made a covenant with Abraham that he would make the Israelites into a great nation, and this was accomplished under David. God also promised Abraham that all people on the earth will be blessed through him. In David’s time, God is still being faithful in this promise as he makes a new covenant with David letting David know that David’s house and kingdom will endure forever, and David’s throne will be established forever. David’s lineage ultimately leads to Jesus and the fulfillment of these two covenants. Abraham was also promised a land for his descendants and Joshua was instructed to conquer this promised land. The conquest of the promised land started by Joshua was completed under the rule of king David as a result of God’s faithfulness.
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God continues to be faithful to his people and his covenant by way of David in his use of David through his leadership. He continues to bring out his plan even though David is completely human and sinful . God uses him as a leader that brings him to attaining Jerusalem which eventually plays a large part in the life of Jesus. He uses David’s lineage to “build a house for him” which reminds me of the eternal home the Lord has built for us.
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God reveals himself, character, and promises through David. He gives David continued victories and a steadfast spirit to bring both vitality and conquering in the spiritual leadership of Israel, but also in the earthly leadership. The people see a king who they did not seek or recognize at first, though unassuming reveal the attributes of God (though not perfectly). Much like Christ he was unassuming to some, but in his humility mighty for glory and kingdom.
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In II Samuel we see that God is faithful to Himself and His promises. God promised that He would use David to rescue his people from the Philistines and from all their enemies. David was given victory wherever he went. David was able to finish the conquest of Canaan by capturing Jerusalem which eventually would become the city of God. The Lord declared that He would make David a house. God used David’s offspring, Solomon, to make a house for Himself. Despite the fact that David, as Israel’s leader sinned, God was still faithful to bring from David’s bloodline the promised Messiah that would rescue the world from their sin.
